In doing so, the Gers extended their unbeaten run in the competition in Govan to eight matches, bringing up their 14th overall victory since they returned to the group stages back in 2018.

As if to underline the Light Blues’ attacking prowess in the Europa League, the victory similarly marked the seventh occasion since they last tasted defeat in the competition in which the side have scored two or more goals at Ibrox.

And it was a first-half blitz which left the Czech side facing an uphill battle as goals from Danilo and Todd Cantwell stretched the Ibrox side’s unbeaten run under Philippe Clement despite Lukas Haraslin’s late strike for Sparta.

The Light Blues immediately set the tone for the evening with only five minutes on the clock when a direct back-to-front move allowed Danilo to bring the ball under control and feed Cantwell, whose cross-cum-shot only narrowly evaded the Brazilian who made a sliding attempt from close range.

Sparta were visibly spooked by the electricity coursing through Ibrox as a moment to forget for defender James Gomez allowed Danilo to steal the ball on the edge of the penalty area and slide a gorgeous left-footed finish into the far corner to break the deadlock in Govan.

The one-way traffic continued in the opening exchanges as Todd Cantwell’s acrobatic effort prompted a diving stop from Peter Vindahl after the midfielder positioned himself perfectly on the stroke of the 18-yard line to pounce on a weak clearance from the Sparta rearguard.

Jack Butland was then called into action for the first time in the contest on 17 minutes when Gomez, seeking redemption for his earlier mistake, leapt from a searching long throw-in to nod towards goal; a moment that only served to spring Philippe Clement’s side back into action.

And they quickly doubled their advantage in the first half just three minutes later as another move of supreme quality cut the Czech side open. Again, a searching run beyond the Sparta backline forced the Czech side to retreat, with Abdallah Sima and goalscorer Danilo combining. A wave of Rangers jerseys soon began to emerge in the direction of the visitors’ goal, with the Brazilian sliding a pass out to Cantwell in space on the right who displayed tremendous composure to jink inside and guide a smart left-footed finish into the far corner.

The relentless nature of the Light Blues prompted a get-together from Sparta in the centre circle as they took stock of exactly what had hit them in opening 20 minutes.

However, two almost became three for the Ibrox side moments later when James Tavernier’s slide rule pass looked primed to meet the darting run of Sima, trickling agonisingly through to Vindahl in the away side’s goal.

Buoyed by an Ibrox crowd in full voice, the Sparta goal was subject to a further peppering when Danilo smacked the outside of the post before Cantwell profited from a Gomez slip and was denied by the feet of Vindahl as he fired an effort towards goal.

Sandwiched between those two opportunities was a dipping free-kick from Tavernier which Vindahl watched mercifully drift past the outside of his post, with Rangers bouncing down the tunnel at half-time having racked up nine attempts on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

A double substitution from Sparta boss Brian Priske at the interval seemed to curb the intensity from the Light Blues, although the Ibrox side remained a constant threat with the pace and directness of Sima and Danilo seeking to stretch the opposition’s defensive line.

It took until beyond the hour-mark for the Czech side to fully threaten the Rangers goal as substitute Qazim Laci stooped to meet Jaroslav Zeleny’s cross but nodded wide of the target.

Rangers responded with an opportunity of their own moments later, although it certainly fell in the half-chance category as Danilo lashed wide from a narrow angle after receiving a pinpoint diagonal from Connor Goldson.

Ibrox then rose to its feet to celebrate the contribution of Cantwell as the midfielder was withdrawn on 68 minutes to be replaced by Ross McCausland who made his Ibrox bow in European competition.

Indeed, the young Academy hopeful almost made an immediate impact when he slid a delicious pass through to Danilo, before he fired an effort from a tight angle minutes later which forced Vindahl into a smart stop at his near post.

Sparta then reduced the arrears with 13 minutes remaining as substitute Lukas Haraslin slammed high into Butland’s goal from an Angelo Preciado pull-back.

Drama then ensued moments later as Danilo appeared to restore the side’s two-goal buffer from close range, only for the referee to visit the pitchside monitor and adjudge that a foul had taken place.

Six additional minutes were added on as Sparta searched desperately for an equaliser which wasn’t to arrive, meaning the Gers are guaranteed knockout football after Christmas should they defeat Aris Limassol in their penultimate group fixture at Ibrox later this month.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Jack, Lundstram, Lammers (Cifuentes, 90), Cantwell (McCausland, 68), Sima (Lawrence, 84), Danilo (Dessers, 84)

Subs not used: McCrorie, K. Wright, Sterling, Roofe, King, Devine

SPARTA PRAGUE: Vindahl, Preciado, Gomez (Wiesner, 45), Kairinen, Olatunji (Laci, 45), Kuchta (Sejk, 65), Birmancevic, Sadilek (Haraslin, 58), Sorensen, Zeleny, Vitik

Subs not used: Vorel, Surovcik, Vydra, Mejdr, Pavelka, Karabec, Sevcik

REFEREE: Davide Massa (ITA)